Cathode for electrolytic cells



Jan. 21, 1936. A. c. JEPHSON ET AL CATHODE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Filed July 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheei 1 .L- i a I I5 a I .1 meme i 2 11cm TORNEYS Jan. 21 1936. A. c. JEPHSON ET AL CATHODE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CE LLS Filed July 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Shae? 2 Ji TTORNEYS Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES CATHODE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Allen 0. Jephson and Ernest B. Custer, Johnstown, Pa., assignors to National Radiator Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Application July 25, 1934, Serial No. 736,897

1 Claim.

This invention relates to electrolytic cells, and more particularly to cells used for the deposit of metal in sheet form upon a rotating cathode, and consists in features of structure by virtue of which the cell is best adapted to service conditions and is of superior utility.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in plan from above of the cell of the invention; Fig. II is a view of the cell in vertical and axial section; Fig. III is a view in plan and to larger scale of the rotating cathode structure alone; Fig. IV is a view in side elevation of the cathode structure, with details shown in axial section; Figs. V and VI are fragmentary views in elevation, illustrating details.

The cell I, conveniently formed of concrete, and borne (with rubber insulation between) upon suitable posts 2, is of annular shape, and is arranged with its axis in vertical alignment its outer wall 3 and its inner wall 4 rising from the bottom wall 5. The inner wall becomes indeed a post of concrete with axial bore 6, rising from the bottom wall 5 of the cell.

The anode 1 is here shown to be a split annulus of 1-inch steel plate of such breadth as to extend throughout a substantial part of the depth of the cell, and, when the parts are asv sembled, throughout the breadth of the reception surface of the cathode. The annulus is of such size as to. surround at a narrow interval (an inch and a half, in this instance) the receptionv face of the assembled cathode. The annular anode l rests upon steps 8 formed in the bottom of the cell.

Current flow to the anode is effected through bars 9 secured electrically to the anode upon its outer surface and extending over the outer rim of the cell. These bars (here shown to be eleven in numberthe number is of no inherent'significance) are spaced at substantially equal intervals around the circumference of the anode.

The bars 9 at their outer ends are electrically united by bands, Ill, I I, of hard-drawn copper, through which the current for electrolysis is distributed to the bars, and through the bars to the anode.

Within the cell and exteriorly of the anode 'heating means are arranged. The heating means shown consist of a coil I 2 'of pipe, for carrying steam or other heating fluid.

The cathode structure includes a shaft l3, adapted in the assembly (as shown in Fig. 11) to extend vertically within the bore 6 of the central post 4 of the cell, arms l4 extending radially from the shaft, a cylindrical shell 15 steel, bears pinned to it at its upper end a hub 10 ll of cast copper. The hub is formed with a downward-facing shoulder l8, and this shoulder, meeting an opposed shoulder formed upon a casting l9 that caps the post 4, sustains the cathode structure in position. An antifriction device (ball bearing) 20 interposed between casting l9 and hub l'l relieves the soft metal of wear and facilitates rotation.

It is from the hub II that the arms l4, also formed of copper, immediately extend; and with 20 the hubs the arms are both mechanically and electrically united.

The shell I5 is advantageously made of aluminum plate; it is truly cylindrical; and its outer surface is finely finished and free of defects. It 25 is, as has been said, a split shell, and it is rendered contractible and expansible by means of bolts 2| that extend through holes in aligned tongues 22, slit from the opposite edges of the plate and turned inward. By the turning of the 30 nuts 23 upon the boltsthe described adjustment of the shell is effected. The shell I5 is conveniently secured upon the outer ends of arms l4 by means of tongues 24 slit from the shell and turned inward, to which tongues 24 the arms I 4 35 are mechanically and electrically united.

The shell is re-enforced by rings (also discontinuous) 25 of aluminum, tack-welded to the interior surface ofi'the shell; and welded also to the tongues 22 and 24.

The hub l1 terminates upwardly in a spindle 26, adapted to be engaged in electrical union (while rotation of the spindle continues) by a pair of spring-backed contact blocks 21, through which the circuit that feeds the anode is com pleted.

In the upper end of spindle 26 is set an eyebolt 28, by means of which the cathode structure, engaged by suitable apparatus, may be raised and lowered.

50 The reception band l6 that is mounted upon The shaft I3 is but a. portion of a multiple-'- piece shaft, whose other parts are in Fig. 11 indicated at 29 and 30. Shaft parts l3 and 29 are freely separable and unitable by vertical displacement, by means of the tongue-and-groove placed between the abutting horizontal surfaces of shaft parts, flanges; and nuts, and the shanks of the bolts are wrapped with insulating tape.

The shaft parts being assembled and united as described, it is manifest that rotation, imparted to the lowest shaft part 30 will be effective to rotate the cathode structure as a unit; and suitable means are provided for imparting rotation at proper speed immediately to the shaft part 30.

In consequence of forming the shaft of a plurality of parts, and of prolonging the shaft part [3 with which the hub l1 and the shelll5 are rigidly and inseparably connected to form a unit, so that it extends downward to and beyond the lower rim of shell l5 and in the assembly meets and makes union with the shaft part 29 deep in the bore 6 of the central post 4 of the cell, the shaft part I3 becomes a positioning member, and the bore 6 a guide. so that the highly finished and carefully cleaned surface of the cathode band l6, and the newly deposited sheet as well, are restrained from accidental contact with or striking against other parts, and so is guarded and protected againstmutilation and contamination.

We claim as our invention:

A rotatable cathode for an electrolytic cell including'a hubof electrically conducting material provided with a cylindrical surface adapted to be engaged by contact-blocks in an engagement permissiveof rotation, conducting arms electrically united with and extending from said hub, an expansible and contractible cylindrical shell of conducting material electrically united with and borne by said arms, an endless band of conducting material adapted to; be securedin electrical union upon said shell by the expansion,

thereof, and a shaft integral with said hub and extending concentrically within said shell and shaped at its free end to the form of one element of a rotation-imparting shaft-coupling.

ALLEN: C. JEPHSON. ERNEST B. CUSTER. 

